5-Year-Olds Offer Wisdom On Turning 5

So, we might have mentioned one or two or maybe even three times, that this program turned five this week, but we can't help it. Turning five is a big deal. The program launched on April 30th, 2007. And not to put too fine a point on it, it was a tough environment for both print and broadcast. So, yes, we've been celebrating our birthday all this week. And unfortunately, like all good things, the on-air party is coming to an end, at least until we celebrate our sixth birthday next year.

But this week we decided to hear from five-year-olds across the country about what is so fantastic about being five. And so, now as a grand finale to our fifth anniversary week, we decided to visit in studio with some of our young listeners. Here with me: Brook Chapman, Tripp Perkins, Gabriela Young and Ana Millicent. And Brook, let me start with you. What do you like about being five?

BROOK CHAPMAN: I'm a drummer.

MARTIN: How long have you been drumming?

CHAPMAN: About five.

MARTIN: You've been drumming since you were zero?

CHAPMAN: No. I drum one million days.

MARTIN: Awesome. Ana, what do you like about being five?

ANA MILISITS: Cartwheels. My sister can do a cart wheel and I can do a split.

MARTIN: Awesome. Tripp, what do you like about being five?

TRIPP PERKINS: Skateboarding.

CHAPMAN: AW. (Unintelligible). Tripp?

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CHAPMAN: (Unintelligible) Tripp.

MARTIN: Gaby? Do you learn any special songs when you're five?

GABRIELA YOUNG: Yeah.

MARTIN: What? What songs do you learn, Gaby?

YOUNG: Well, I forgot some songs.

MARTIN: But does anybody know the birthday song? And a one, and a two, and a three - you're going - can you do that? Can you get started?

PERKINS: And a one, and a two, and a three, and a four - (Singing) Happy Birthday...

MARTIN: That's good. OK. We've been speaking with some of our youngest fans, Brook Chapman, Tripp Perkins, Gaby Young and Ana Milisits here our Washington, D.C. studios. It's been so much fun talking to all of you. Thank you for celebrating our fifth birthday with us. But for a special preview of what it's like to be six, now we have with us Ava Milisits. Ava, thank you for joining us.

AVA MILISITS: Thank you.

MARTIN: What's fun about being six so we have something to look forward to?

MILISITS: I think it's fun to go on the bus to elementary school.

MARTIN: And is there something you can do that you're six that you couldn't do when you were five?

MILISITS: I couldn't ride A scooter when I was five.

MARTIN: And now you can?

MILISITS: Mm-hmm.

MARTIN: Awesome. Well, thank you.

MILISITS: Thank you.

MARTIN: That is Ava Milisits with a preview of what it's like to be six.

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MARTIN: And that's our program for today. And as a final word, we normally take time for credits once a week, when we recognize the work of the TELL ME MORE staff. But on this week, when we've been celebrating our fifth anniversary on the air, we decided that there are so many people who help make this program possible that we wanted to recognize them. And today we want to thank all of our member stations and listeners. In other words, you, because you are the reason we are here. You make our work possible and we appreciate it. So thank you.

And remember, you can always tell us more, by going to NPR.org and finding us under the Programs tab. You can also find our podcast there. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @TellMeMoreNPR. I'm Michel Martin and you've been listening to TELL ME MORE from NPR News and the African-American Public Radio Consortium. Let's talk more on Monday.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.